Adult Education plays a key role in imparting knowledge about democracy, politics, political processes and social structures. The promotion of active citizenship for responsible citizens is an educational policy objective in Europe and an important element for the societal cohesion in a democracy.
What is citizenship education? How and where does it take place? What are thematic key aspects, approaches, methods? How should we structure courses for political education and how can the education of democracy be implemented for adults. These are the central questions of the EPALE conference 2019: Citizenship Education in Austria & Europe: Objectives, methods and future prospects .
Ideas and methods, which were developed in European projects, will be introduced and tested. The national and international idea and networking pools will cover the following topics: approaches of political education, promotion of active citizenship, integration through adult education as well as empowerment through community based media and promotion of media literacy. More details, the program and the registration you will find also here. We are looking forward to see you in Vienna.

In 2016, the results of the UK Referendum on EU membership had a seismic effect on the House of Commons and the long established democratic process. Up to that point, it could reasonably be assumed that the elected MPs reflected the balance of opinion in the whole nation. Since then, there have been deep schisms not just between but within parties.

What are the implications for citizens?

All sections of the UK have become increasingly pluralist. Whether it is a migrant new citizen, a student, a worker or unemployed, a senior citizen, it is crucially important that all have or develop the skills of citizenship which enable them, not only to analyse the nature of their society and its governance, but to develop the arguments that can bring about changes for the better.

What are the key questions?

How is your country governed? What are your rights not only to vote but to make representations to government? How do you combine and share ideas and opinions in ways that persuade and influence? What are the duties that government must fulfil in relation to health, welfare, education and employment ; and providing care for our most vulnerable citizens? How can you personally develop the oral and written skills to express your needs and support your arguments with evidence?

Currently the government of the UK is in a state of conflicted paralysis. It has never been more important for citizens to make their voices heard, challenge bigotry and intolerance and suggest plans that respect diversity and create a better society for the common good.

We have to be clear about what populism means. In many ways, the social movements that brought us into the 21st century could be framed as populism, as the democratic processes could not always embrace liberation movements. Ultimately, social movements could lead the way to greater freedom, the most significant probably is and was the women's movement, but also the quest for equality for sexual and gender minorities, race, ethnicity and class. We can't confuse these liberation movements with those who desire to undermine human and cultural rights, the mark of populist movements. Adult and community education is on the side of freedom and rights.

According to the European Parliament, the future of Europe starts in towns and with citizens and Local authorities are best positioned to fight against populism. Challenge taken by the "Pop-Up Europe Delivering Europe to its citizens" project!

Although there is plenty of training for public officials on European topics to be carried out at national level, literature shows a very limited existence of projects allowing sharing of experiences between Municipalities offices dealing with European union matters. The methodology used by the project is a results-oriented one, using informal and on the job training which are the best learning techniques in adult education. Participants will “study” a best practice, which is the Pop Up Europe experience led by the Province of Antwerpen, winner of the Europcom "European Public Communication Award" in 2017.

Four joint short term training staff meetings, will allow personnel working in municipalities to learn from each other and adapt the Pop-up tools to their local context. The results expected during the project and on its completion are: Promote good practices in terms of local governance and support the exchange of experiences between European offices of local authorities; Strengthen project partners EU-related governance skills; Fight distrust and lack of cooperation among key actors in local community; Engage directly local governments and citizens to best learn of, grasp opportunities and meet the challenges that the EU integration implies. Above all, the project activities enhance the empowerment of staff in Municipalities and produce specific tool-kits per partner country, translated into their own languages and made available to other local governments across Europe by providing training to staff members involved in EU policy on how to organise activities and awareness at local level for the general public and how to motivate people to become active European citizens. Updates will be made available. Stay tuned!